Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


Fateh-110 / NP-110 / Mushak

According to Jane's, China assisted Iran with the technology to produce the solid-propellant unguided Mushak-120 (also referred to as the Iran-130 or the Nazeat 10), with a range of 130 km and a weight of 500 kg. A longer range version, the Mushak-160 with a rane of 160 km, and a weight of 500 kg, was also been produced indigenously. A 200 km range Mushak-200 (also possibly referred to asZelzal) was reported to be in development, presumably with Chinese assistance. These missiles were apparently based on the 150 km range CSS-8 missile (a surface-to-surface derivative of the SA-2 surface-to-air missile) obtained from China.

The Fateh-110 (Victorious-110; also known as the NP-110) is a solid propellant surface to surface missile, with a reported range of about 170 kilometers. The program to develop this missile, which had a reported diamter of about 0.45 meters, apparently began around 1997.

Iran successfully tested its first solid-fueled surface-to-surface missile, state-run Tehran radio reported 31 May 2001. The guided Fateh-110 missile was developed at the government-owned Aerospace Industries, the radio said, adding "Fateh-110, a super-modern surface-to-surface missile, functions with combined solid-fuel, is able to cause great damage and finds targets with accuracy. The missile is classified among Iran's most efficient missiles." The broadcast did not give the missile's range, say when the test took place or provide any further details.

On 6 September 2002 Iran successfully test fired the Fateh-110 A ballistic missile. State-run Tehran television said the Fateh-110 A missile was "one the most accurate surface-to-surface missiles manufactured in the world." No details were given on when or where in Iran the test was conducted nor was the missile's range revealed.

Some reports claimed that the Fateh-110 A missile might have been based on the Chinese DF-11A missile, which had a range of 186 to 248 miles and was capable of carrying nuclear warheads.